Wringer release mechanism



Sep-t. 14, 1943. o. T. vANDERSON 2,329,577

wRINGER RELEASE'i MEGHAN'I SM Filed oct. 195s A 2 sheets-sheet 1 R4. A w

sept. 14, 1943. Q; 1. Ammzow WRINGER RELEASE MEcHANIs'M Filed Oct. 3, 1958 whirl-70k 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED sursis Lorrie-E 'Y V'2,329,577 A A', s, .f WRINGER RELEASE MEQHMISM Oscarj'sliKAnderson, Watorino,.Iowal y application october '3, 1933,; ser'ia1nofcs2-,91.5

f 6 claims. (ci. .es-4253) vThis invention relates to clothes wringers, and more particularly to an improved lwringer pres-Y sure release and reset mechanism. s l

The primary object of the invention is to pro# vide a wringer of such design and construction that no mechanical parts of the wringer are sub# ject to eXtreme or violenti movement sufcient rto injure or endanger the operator when the release control is actuated. j j

Another important object is to provide awrinfger release mechanism of extreme Ysimplicityr venticn as illustrated in the drawings attached hereto and forming a part of this specification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wringer constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, certain parts being shown broken away to more clearly illustrate'the internal wringer mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental sectional view .ofthe release mechanism; the several parts being' illus# trated in the positions they assume at the instant of release.

Fig. isa'fragmental sectional view similari to Fig. 2, but `illustrating thesever'al lparts inithe position they assume during the -resetting-fbperL ation.

Fig. Liis a detail perspective viewvof .thel res ting link. Y f y Fig. 5 is a .detail perspective view'of the reset lever bracket. f l

- AAVThe general wringcr construction larrlower wringer roll "I5, 'and by reference -to Fig. Y1 it-will be s een that thegbearingsgl and `IIrin'which-tlcel shaft I8 of the lower roll k'I5 isfjournaledare llimited in ltheir downward movement withinthe channels I2 and I3 by the" upwardly extending bearing support ,portions I9 formed at each end of thebottom channel I-I j'Th'is construction `.provides lmeans for maintaining the lower roll `I5 in a xed a-Xis at -all timesf since the downward movement ofthe bearings y-It and -I'I is Vdefinitely limited by the supports-IQ; `and -upwardmovement is prevented Aby the springe,r pressure as exerted downwardly' by the upper roll M `The .typical wringer constructionillustrated'in the :drawings includes awringer frame comprising fa kbottom channel I I extending longitudinally of the wringer and secured at: each ofy its .ends r by Iwelding or otherwise to one of the verticaliend channel members I2 and I3.' Each offthese end channels is so formedas y-tofprovidefa vertical sldeway for suitable bear-ing .members-supporting a resilient upper wringer -rolljI-l, anda simi- The'rollsarerotatably driven by any suitable power source which 1 is preferably coupled to theI shaft I3' of the lower roll-l5 bypower transmission menhanism enclosed jin any desirable A-tyrn of power headZI The-housing of the powery head 2l carriesl the entire wringer frame by ymeansof the r'brackets 22"ormedvon the end channel lI2 and secured to the power head by 'cap screws 24. The shaft-Z-f-of the upper yroll `III is journaled for rotation in the bearing members 26and'21, and' this-roll -is urged downwardly into vresilient engagement lwithr the lower roll |15 `by -mean'sof the flat Lleaf type pressure spring 28 adjustably mounted-on -the-toplchannel 29 by'means of an adjustment' vscrew 3 I which is threaded :into the bushing 32 andV which isoperatively secured to the center-point of )the 'spring28 rby a retaining clip 3 3. The retaining clip-33 is secured to the sprin'g2-8 and engages the reduced'portion 34 of the adjustment screw-6I inforder that the screw SI and spring 28 `will-he 1in operative engagement at all'times, `and the-end Aportions of the spring v28 directly engage `and exert ra downward pressure on the "bearings '26 and 2l to provide suitable operating pressure between the two rolls.

The release and. reset Incthe present .invention the operating vpressure 4eiective .betweentherolls I4 and -I'5 Iis re-Y leased by .releasing the top channel .2B `from the wringerirame, andis reset by returningthe top channel '.to the operating .position illustrated -in Fig.. l, and it should, therefore, be pointedout that the ressence of this `invention .resides inxthe new, :improved andsimplied lmechanism for'accomplishing this purpose.

One -end of the toplchannel'g is securedto the upper end of the vertical channel I2 by a hook connection 4I formed by striking a lip 42"out wardly from the channel-*I2 in such amanner that -i-t 'may-be releasably-engaged by the lower edge 43 of an orifice formed similarly in the end wall 44 of the top channel 29.

Means for securing the opposite end of the top channel 29 to the vertical channel I3 include a reset lever bracket 45 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the channel I3, a resetting lever 46 pivoted thereon by means of the rivet 41, a resetting link 48 pivotally mounted on the lever 46 by means of the rivet 49, and a latch pin projecting upwardly through a suitable orifice in the top wall 52 of the top channel 29 and engaging a latch orifice 53 in the resetting link 48.

Manual release of the wringer is accomplished by mounting the latch pin 5I on a release plate 54 which is loosely secured to the lower surfacev of the top wall of the top channel 29 by an anchor rivet 55, and which is so formed as to include a manual releasebutton 56 projecting upwardly through a suitable orifice 5'Iv in the top 29. 'Ihe release plate 54 is normally urged upwardly by a spring 58 carried on a spring pilot 59 in order that the latch pin 5I will project through the latch( orice 53 in the resetting link 48 and lock the parts in the operating position illustrated in Fig. 1. Y Y

In this connection it should be observed that oneadvantage of this structure over those heretofore in use resides in the factV that the present locking means is not subject to accidental release such as has frequently been experienced in prior art devices whenever the operating pressure becomesiunusually high. This feature is quite important, since it will be readily appreciated that this operating pressure varies notonly with the adjustment of the screw 3 I, but also varies in accordance with the thicknesses of goods'fed betweenthe vrolls I4 and I5. Y Y

The top channel 29 is subject to the full pressure exerted by the spring 28, but this force acts directly upwardly against the lower bearing surface 52 of the resetting link 48 in such a manner that while the angular position of the surface 52 will result in a definite camming action tending to pivot the link 48 in a clockwise direction about the rivet 49, yet this force is of far less magnitude than the force of the spring 28, and the latch pin 5I which engages the latch orifice 53 prevents any possibility of accidental release. At the same time, the force exerted on the latch pin 5| bythe link 48 acts at right angles to the axis of the pin and, therefore, will not tend to cause it to release the latch orifice 53, irrespective of variations of the magnitude` of the force.4

To release the rolls, the operator may strike the release button 56, which will depress the release plate 54 and cause the latch pin 5I to be withdrawn from the orifice 53 in the link 48. As just pointed out, the magnitude of the force acting upon this latch pin 5I is very small and consequently insufficient to cause any appreciable resistance to the releasing movement of the pin. As the pin 5I releases the orice 53, the link 48 will pivot outwardly in a clockwise direction until the bearing surface 52 disengages the top 29 and allows the top to spring upwardly suiciently to release all tension'` on the pressure spring 28. A

pair of slotted limit links 6I are mounted on rivets 62 and engage a vcross pin 63 to prevent undue movement of the top 29 under extreme pressure conditions,and a limit pin 65 is likewise provided on the link 48to engage apair of stops 66 formed on the bracket 45 and limit the pivotal movement of the link 48.

To reset the mechanism, it is only necessary that the operator reengage the hook connection 4I if it is disengaged, lift the resetting lever 46 suiiciently to engage the latch pin 5I l with the orifice 53 (see Fig. 3) and force the reset lever 46 downwardly against the vertical channel I3 into the position shown in Fig. 1. As this is done the rivet 49 crosses the dead center position established by the latclr pin 5I and the rivet 41, and the resetting lever 46 is thus secured in position vwithout the necessity of any other locking means. K

From the above description it should be apparent that by practicing the principles of this invention, a wringer of extreme simplicity and rugged construction has been provided which not only possesses the obvious advantage of economy of manufacture, but also is of great merit in that its release mechanism is not subject to accidental release and is yet easily and positively released by a very light manual touch; and also in that it is so designed that no parts are subject to such extreme or violent movement that they might strike and injurer the operator when the release control is actuated.

Whilel have shown .and described a preferred embodiment of this invention as required by the patent statutes, yet itis subject to numerous modifications and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited except asby the scope of the appended claims. l

I claim: y

l. yIn a clothes wringer including a plurality of pressure rolls av vpressure spring, and a plurality of separable frame members normally urged apart under pressure exerted by said pressure spring, the combination of a manually operable reset mechanism interconnecting said separable frame memb-ers and adapted to force said frameV members into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring; said reset mechanism `comprising an upright link normally effective to `retain the frame members in operating position against the force exerted by the pressure spring, cam means responsive to the pressure exerted bysaid pressure spring for moving said link in a direction axially of said pressure rolls, and manually operated latch means for releasably retaining said link against said axial movement.

2. Ina clothes wringer comprising a` pair of pressure rolls, bearings for said rolls, and slideways adjacent each end of said rolls for carrying said bearings, the'combination of a spring extending between said bearing slideways and adapted to urge said bearings and rolls into operative position, a longitudinal frame member extending between said bearing slideways and supporting said pressure spring, meansfor releasably securing one end of said longitudinal frame member to one of said bearing slideways, a toggle releaseand resetting linkage whereby the opposite end of said longitudinal frame member may be forced into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring; said release and reset linkage comprising a reset lever having an extension 'constituting a handle for manipulating said toggle. linkage,` a link pivotally yconnected at one end with said reset lever, and manually operated latch means for releasably connecting said frame member with the opposite end of said link to retain the frame 'member in said operating position, with said opposite end of the link, on release of said link by said latch means, being movable in fa direction of force exerted b-y said pressure spring.

said reset mechanism comprising a reset lever, a reset link, a pivotal connection between said reset lever and said main trama, a pair of cam surfaces adapted to engage eachother and comprise apivotalconnection between said link and said ytop frame, said cam surfaces being so formed that the force exerted by said pressure spring will result in a reduced force tending to move said cam surfaces out of engagement with tudinal frame member may be forced into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring; said release and reset linkage comprising a reset lever, a link, andr additional means for releasing 'said link without movement of said lever.

4. 'I'he combination, with a clothes wringer.

comprising a frame, a plurality of cooperating pressure rolls,a pressure spring, and a spring supporting member movable with respect to saidy frame, of a pressurel releaseand reset mechavnism extending between said frame and said spring supporting Amember and adapted to releasably secure said spring supporting member in operating position; said release and reset mechanism including a pivoted reset lever, a tension link, a latch carried on said supporting member releasably connectible with one end of said link, means pivotally connecting said reset lever with the opposite end of said link, said tension link being under` tension when said spring supporting member is in said operating position, and manual means operating said latch for disconnection from said link to release said supporting member from said operating position, said link on release of said supporting member vbeing without tension-and pivotally movable on said reset lever relative to said supporting member.

5. In a clothes Wringer including a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, a main frame, a top frame separable fromV said main frame and normally urged upward and apart from said main frame under pressure exerted by said pressure spring, the combination of a manually separable frame members and adapted to force said frame members into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring operable reset mechanism'interconnecting said each other; locking means to maintain said cam surfaces4 in engaged relationship, and release mechanism for said lock comprising a manualvly operable member independent of said reset lever whereby said locking means may be released to permit-relative movement of said cam surfaces to a disengaged position to release said 4frame members for'relative movement without` imparting movement to said reset lever,-

' 6. In a clothes wringerv including a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, a. main frame, atop frame separable from said main frame and normally urged upward and apart' from said mainframe under pressure exerted by said pressure spring, the combination of amanually operable reset mechanism interconnecting said separable frame members and adapted to force said frame members into operating position against Jthe force exerted by said pressure spring;

said reset mechanism comprising a, reset lever,

a reset link, a pivotalv connection between said:

reset lever and one of said frame members, a pairy of cam surfaces adapted to engage each other and comprise a. pivotal connection between Asaid link and one of said separable frame memengaged relationship, and release mechanism forl said lock comprising a manually operable mem-- ber independent of said reset lever whereby said locking meansmay be released to permit rela.- tive movement of said cam surfaces to a disengaged position to release said frame members for relative movement Without imparting movement to said reset lever.

OSCAR T. ANDERSON. 

